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Not all Nannies are “Six Figure Nannies”

A common misconception is that hiring a nanny is an expensive proposition and only “the rich” can afford this option. And recent news reports are contributing to this myth, as they spotlight “six-figure” nannies who are earning more than $100,000 per year.

The truth is that most nannies don’t receive such high salaries and are actually an affordable, convenient option for many families. In fact, hiring a nanny is often more affordable than other childcare options, including daycare.

Nannies’ salaries depend on a variety of factors, including:

Their experience

Your geographic location (nannies in big cities often earn more than nannies in smaller towns)

The number of children they’re watching

The ages of the children

Their duties and responsibilities

The number of hours they’re working

Some families pay their nannies benefits, including health care and paid holidays, which add value to their base salaries. Live-in nannies also receive free room and board. But many families do not include these benefits, reducing their overall cost.

While some people still envision nannies as tending only to wealthy families, hiring a nanny is a viable, convenient option for many families – across all tax brackets. In recent years, a significant number of parents have learned – firsthand – about the benefits of hiring a nanny, including the convenience of having someone come to your home vs. bringing your children to daycare, the ability to ask your nanny to start dinner or help with housework, etc.

1 comment to Not all Nannies are “Six Figure Nannies”

This is true, Candi. I was a nanny for over 16 years for all ages and for differing family incomes. Some were wealthy while others were not. I was asked if I wanted healthcare or dental by some families. If not, they were willing to pay a higher wage. I usually took the higher wage because I had coverage elsewhere. Also, I was paid more if my duties included housework, cooking, baking, shopping, errands, etc. If not, I was paid less. As you say, if the family had more children, I was paid more but less if there were less children to care for.

I will say this: I had a waiting list for my services. I did work hard and the families trusted me. Having someone they trusted gave them a great sense of comfort when leaving for work. They never worried and in fact, enjoyed knowing their kids were being sung to, played with, taken to play groups, taught sign language, read to and more. That personal touch made all the difference for them. To this day I remain friends with those families.